Global smartphone market-research firm Counterpoint Research reports that the iPhone 17 series has achieved a 14 percent increase in sales compared with the iPhone 16 over the first ten days following its launch in both the U.S. and China.
In China, the sales performance and growth were even more pronounced. The base-model iPhone 17 nearly doubled its unit sales in that market compared with the equivalent launch period for the iPhone 16.
Across the two markets (U.S. and China) combined, sales of the base model rose by 31 percent.
Counterpoint Senior Analyst Mengmeng Zhang noted:
“The base model iPhone 17 is very compelling to consumers, offering great value for money. A better chip, improved display, higher base storage, selfie camera upgrade – all for the same price as last year’s iPhone 16.”
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| Source: Counterpoint |
The launch timing for the iPhone 17 series was global, including China in September 2025.
Additional data from research firm IDC shows that in China Q3 2025 smartphone shipments rose 0.6 percent year-on-year to around 10.8 million units for Apple, enabling it to reclaim second place among vendors in that market, with a 15.8 percent share.
According to IDC’s senior smartphone analyst Will Wong, Apple’s slight shipment growth in China is attributed to the “value-for-money base model iPhone 17” attracting more cost-sensitive consumers.
On the supply-chain and price-structure side, commentary in the market suggests that in the U.S. carriers increased maximum subsidies by around US$100 for the iPhone 17 Pro-Max and similar models, aligning marketing incentives with longer service-contract arrangements.
Taken together, these metrics suggest Apple’s latest flagship rollout is gaining stronger early traction in two of its most important markets, even amid wider economic headwinds and intensifying competition from domestic brands in China.
